Enterprise architecture, IT effectiveness and the mediating role of IT alignment in US hospitals

• Published in: Information systems journal (Oxford, England) Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 97 - 127
• Main Authors: Bradley, Randy V., Pratt, Renée M. E., Byrd, Terry Anthony, Outlay, Christina N., Wynn, Jr, Donald E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Alignment; Architecture; Computer architecture; Enterprise architecture; Enterprisewide computing; Health care; Hospitals; Information systems; Information technology; IT alignment; IT effectiveness; Least squares method; mediation; Studies; survey; Technological planning; Upgrading
• ISSN: 1350-1917; 1365-2575
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2575.2011.00379.x

Despite the possible benefits of implementing healthcare information technologies, successful implementation of effective healthcare information technology is constrained by cultural and regulatory concerns and technical obstacles encountered when establishing or upgrading an organisation's enterprise infrastructure. In this paper, we advance Ross' four‐stage model of enterprise architecture maturity as a valuable IT resource for helping healthcare organisations sustain a competitive advantage. We use partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modelling to analyse survey data from 164 US hospitals at different stages of EA maturity. Our results provide evidence that enterprise architecture maturity directly influences the effectiveness of hospitals' IT resources for achieving strategic goals. Further, enterprise architecture maturity indirectly influences the effectiveness of IT resources when IT alignment is incorporated as a mediating variable. We discuss the implications of our findings for research and practice and suggest opportunities for future research.